Re: Renaming files: annoying automatic re-selection of entire filename in Windows 8

Anonymous

So I think I've found a workaround that doesn't require a third party program. I simply can't reply to the original thread because it's closed, but I think my two cents may help some people since I'm having this problem on Windows 10 nearly seven years later.

It seems that, because I'm trying to rename something on dropbox, that there's a lag between me choosing to rename the file and dropbox recognizing that I'm trying to rename a file. At first, I would wait a few seconds, hit "Home" or the left arrow key, and then work on renaming the file hoping it doesn't happen again, which sometimes it does.

It seems though, that if I hit backspace (when the filename is still initially selected), ctrl+z (to undo deleting the file name), and then home (to get back to the beginning of the file name), I can use the arrow keys to move to the portion I need to rename unmolested, almost like it forces dropbox to recognize that a file is being renamed.

Original thread: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8\_1-files/renaming-files-annoying-automatic-re-selection-of/3e451ce8-282a-4638-88ee-fd9f7cca2536

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Anonymous

2023-09-25T11:44:44+00:00

To work around the problem renaming indexed files in Windows 10, I pause the indexer (in Control Panel > Indexing Options).

The 'Pause' button seems to force the indexer-search service to sleep for 15 minutes (?)

To resume the indexer - before the 15 minutes period ends - there is no 'Resume' button;

Look at Richard's 2017 answer here: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-to-unpause-indexing-in-windows-10/bbb6b65c-c7cb-4fde-8c87-f6dd44fb6d81

My workaround for this next problem is to restart the 'Windows Search' service (in Services - services.msc)

Note: I guess the service named 'Windows Search' performs both 'indexing' and 'search' functionality. Who knows?
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Anonymous

2023-09-02T06:02:23+00:00
Hi! I too have been driven crazy by this for years. It happens for me in Windows Explorer, whether I am navigating a Dropbox file structure or one solely on my computer (i.e., not synced to another service).

I found a solution on this site: https://www.tenforums.com/general-support/21198-file-explorer-rename-name-select-delay-interrupts-edit.html and so far it is working for me. Unfortunately (or fortunately) it requires you to stop using Windows Media Player.

Go to control panel and search for "windows features"

You should see something called "turn windows features on and off" -- click on that

There should be a pop-up window with a directory-style interface (see picture)

Uncheck "Media Features"

Probably restart

For good measure, I also uninstalled Windows Media Player. I did not test this before uninstalling WMP.

It's not a real fix but I am happy to use different players in exchange for relief from this editing curse.
Thanks a lot! And * * Microsoft, honestly.

A tip for noobs like me, or foreigners like me, this is found under "Programs and Features" from All Control Panel Items - which helps navigating the tree in other languages. Then from left panel, under admin protection, "Turn Windows features on or off" -> Opens the "Windows Featrues" window.. For example, "Ohjelmat ja Toiminnot" in Finnish -> "Ota windowsin ominaisuuksia käyttöön tai poista niitä käytöstä" -> "Windows-Ominaisuudet" window opens.
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Anonymous

2023-08-22T04:23:56+00:00
Hi! I too have been driven crazy by this for years. It happens for me in Windows Explorer, whether I am navigating a Dropbox file structure or one solely on my computer (i.e., not synced to another service).

I found a solution on this site: https://www.tenforums.com/general-support/21198-file-explorer-rename-name-select-delay-interrupts-edit.html and so far it is working for me. Unfortunately (or fortunately) it requires you to stop using Windows Media Player.

Go to control panel and search for "windows features"

You should see something called "turn windows features on and off" -- click on that

There should be a pop-up window with a directory-style interface (see picture)

Uncheck "Media Features"

Probably restart

For good measure, I also uninstalled Windows Media Player. I did not test this before uninstalling WMP.

It's not a real fix but I am happy to use different players in exchange for relief from this editing curse.
This fixed it for me!

Thank you so much.

Years of annoying procedures like: Rename -> CTRL+Z -> Rename again but waiting for explorer to select all... Are gone now <3

Changed my life xD
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Anonymous

2023-08-18T22:22:10+00:00

Dear Microsoft,

Please, please, please fix this! It has been annoying me for years. :-( Usually, it only auto-selects the whole name 1-2 times, but never more than 3, and then I can insert characters in the name or something similar as needed. Right now, after a recent update it never stops. It makes renaming files by changing a subset of characters (e.g., sequences like file001.txt, file002.txt, etc.) nearly impossible in the GUI. :-p

An unhappy customer,

Jeff Buxton
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Anonymous

2023-08-10T17:47:27+00:00

Just before the bug appeared I had configured Windows Search to index my entire volume D. After I see this solution, I take out my volume D from Windows search and the bug completely disappeared.

I tried the other proposed solutions, but this one was the only one that functioned.
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